Shul Treasurer Steals $600,000

Isaac Zuker allegedly stole more than $600,000 from Congregation Aish Kadosh, in Woodmere, Long Island.

 

Cops: Synagogue treasurer stole thousands
By JOHN VALENTI • Newsday

The treasurer of a Woodmere synagogue was arrested at an airport hotel early Wednesday and charged with stealing more than $600,000 from the Jewish house of prayer, police said.

Isaac Zucker, 47, of Westwood Road, Woodmere , is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday in First District Court, Hempstead , on a first-degree larceny charge.

He was arrested at 1:55 a.m. at the Holiday Inn at Long Island -MacArthur Airport

Nassau County police said it was unclear if Zucker had booked a flight from MacArthur -- and said it was unclear how he was found.

Police said Zucker is the treasurer at Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere…

As treasurer, police said, Zucker transferred more than $600,000 into his personal bank accounts. He was confronted last week by members of the congregation, police said, and then suddenly went missing.…

Update 2:30 pm CDT – According to Newsday:

After being called "a substantial flight risk," the treasurer of a Woodmere synagogue who was arrested at an area airport hotel Wednesday pleaded not guilty to charges he stole more than $600,000 from the Jewish house of prayer.

Isaac Zucker, 47, of Westwood Road, Woodmere, was ordered held on $300,000 bond or $150,000 cash bail.…

The Jewish Week adds more detail:

…The shul, which serves 250 families, has a mortgage with First Republic Bank. Until four months ago, Ganz said, the shul had never been late on a payment.

“We raised about $225,000 over the weekend, so we’ve been able to pay the bank anything that was in arrears,” Ganz said. “Either we are or we will be current on all bills by the end of the week, and I think we have a bit of a reserve to get us through the normal fundraising schedule. … but it’s a very significant loss.”

…The shul also hired a forensic accountant and traced the fraud’s origin back to 2008. Each board member is elected to a three-year term, and Zucker is believed to have started in 2006 and re-elected in 2009. 

The shul maintained two accounts, one for operating expenses at a local bank and an endowment fund at TD Bank. Zucker deposited checks made out to the expense account into the endowment fund, which he then was able to sweep into his own account, according to shul officials.

“Until very recently bills got paid on time, so there was no reason to suspect that anything was going on,” said Ganz. “He [Zucker] got sloppy.”

Ganz said it’s still not clear how exactly Zucker managed to transfer the money into his account. According to the shul’s bylaws two signatures are required for every bank transfer; however, inexplicably, Zucker was able to transfer the money with only one signature.

Jennifer Morneau, Public Relations Manager for TD Bank, said they were unaware of the situation.…

Gavriel Fagin, an adjunct professor at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work and a member of the shul, said he was in “total denial” when he first heard the news.

“On a shul level, how could someone betray our trust in such a manner?” Fagin said. “But more deeply, on a personal level, this hurts so much. There is anger. I can’t help but feel sorry for him. I truly hope he gets the help he needs to recognize the destruction, and to begin to take steps to repair the shattered pieces.”

Fagin said the congregation considered Zucker’s family “the biggest victims here. Our hope is that Isaac’s wife, father, in-laws and, most of all, children can still come and feel comfortable in Aish. We love them, accept them, will be present for them and hope that they can find peace of mind among familiar faces.”

Comments

[WOW]

If my Shul had $600 missing they would know about it right away, they must be doing well if the can have 600K missing and now find out.

[yidandahalf]

What did that joint need 600 grand for anyway? All the while never paying one cent in tax and existing on the backs of the taxpayers as all the holy rollers do of every faith. Tax the mamsers and take away their tax exempt status. Make them work as do all us poor shlemiels who support them.

[jancsipista]

thatze nice ting to steal 600 grand what in the world did he think, is he that dumb if he is then the synagougue deserves it why did they hire him .

[Loshonhora]

Most Shuls have about 600K missing,but that is because members can't pay membership so the Shul keeps borrowing.
Is Aisk Koidesh Orthodox?
Did this guy shave off a beard & payos & ditch his Kipah?

[PulpitRabbi]

AFAIK, he was a volunteer treasurer, and most shuls rely on such volunteers. Ideally, even volunteer organisations would have well conceived bylaws and functioning checks and balances. However, that's not often the case. Let's hope that this case shakes people awake.

[Forty Eighter]

Rabbi weinberg of Aish Kodesh runs a mini hassidic dynasty over there. His hassidim claim that he has clarevoyant powers. How come he didnt see this one coming?

[ah-pee-chorus]

@ WOW -

my guess is that the money was from their 'building fund' and was to be used at a later date.

judging from their website they look to be right-wing MO.

[FirstGenerationBavarianAmerican]

One of the highest billing radio stations in the country has the slogan, "All News, All The Time". Because of a change in editorial focus, some pundits have included the line "All Crime, All The Time" in their recent reviews of the station.

After seeing the top post here was a report of another theft, I couldn't help but think that this site should adopt that slogan, just as The New York Times proclaims "All The News Thats Fit To Print".

[schneur]

This is really interesting. Ash Kodesh is not just any shul. This is a shul started by R. Weinberger as a MO spiritual center named after the Piasetzner rebbe killed in the Warsaw Ghetto. Rabbi Weinberger and his chohort are constantly preaching how this hul is a real spiritual gem , with spiritual values being stressed. Although a YU grad . Weinberger is a Breslover chasid if not a pseudo rebbe himself.
The PR coming from the shul cites itself as a model for other shuls in fostering Ruchnius, learning and personal devotion.
Well I guess at least 1 person in the shul leadership was not influenced.
And I guess even spiritual groups are "playing" with lots of cash these days. Yes a long way from the Warsaw ghetto and the deprivations there.
In general I suspect many shuls are corrup in their financial management.

[Snake Oil]

Pity he didn't get away with the theft.

The Woodmere community is better off without Weinberger having the ability to grow his insidious cult.

A YU graduate who dons a shtraimel and beckeshe is weird. When he starts selling holocaust based spiritual snake oil and harming the community with his poison, he rises to public menace status.

Run the charlatan out of town!

[Guest]

That's why every shul should have checks and balances. Just as our government has survived as a democracy for over 200 years because of checks and balances.

(Except for Obama starting an unconstitutional war in Libya without Congressional approval, unlike Bush who at least got Congressional approval for both of his wars.)

I believe that even in the Hasidic religion, every Rebbe should have a board of directors that reviews all monetary tansactions and should have the power to veto the Rebbe.

But even if we cannot fix the Hasidic religion, we should definitely try to fix the Jewish religion, and have every Ros Yeshiva reviewed by a board.

[Disgusted]

It's always the biggest haters that have the most garbage to hide. You all make me sick. A member of a wonderful shul does an aveira and you attack the rabbi who is a tzadik. Sick.

[Norman]

it could be that he didnt steal anything, he just "kashered" money for himself or for others. the amount $600,000 is too much to just take with nobody noticing.

[Forty Eighter]

The question for Rabbi Weinberg is: By what what right did he masser this poor jew to the authorities? Shouldn't he have called him to din torah first?

Interesting how the rabbis make different rules for themselves?

[tooclose2detroit]

600k-was that just between 20-60?-then i guess he really took 3 million.

[goldstar]

tooclose2detroit - nice one!

[Anon]

Rav Weinberger is a personal friend. He is as real as the real thing can be. I've known him since yeshiva days.

Who knows what the money was. Could have been building fun money the shul was saving.

One thing for sure, Moishe is not living like a king.

Make fun of the Chassidim all you want.

Weinberger is authentic.

[jancsipista]

anon- or anyone in here can you tell me if rabbi dovid weinberger who has a synagougue in lawrence is related to this rabbi weinberger in woodmere?

[Abracadabra]

It could be that the shul had a line of credit with their bank of about $400,000 and that this guy slowly tapped into it over the course of 2-3 years, until it went dry and also stole shul dues over that time, it all adding up to $600,000.

The shul is Orthodox, but it attracts a big mix - from MO to Chareidi - due to the openness of Rabbi Moshe Weinberger to all walks of life. The rabbi himself grew up MO and became Chassidish by choice, although he wouldn't call himself "Breslov" as some people have mistakenly said. He has a very interesting mix of hashkafa, outlooks, and will quote Rav Kook and Rebbi Nachman in the same lecture. He does not hold of himself as a "chassidic dynasty" as others above have mentioned. The shul started as a small minyan which approached Rabbi Weinberger to lead them (he was a teacher) and the shul grew due to the rabbi's warmth and openness.

The treasurer is surely Orthodox, and to his credit took his yarmulka off. At least he learned SOMETHING from Rabbi Moshe Weinberger - who would surely have told him to do that. I wouldn't be surprised if Rabbi Weinberger mentioned it at some point in a speech to shul congregants - if you're ever arrested take off your yarmulka.

[Gevezener Chusid]

I like this comment above and I concur:

A YU graduate who dons a shtraimel and beckeshe is weird. When he starts selling holocaust based spiritual snake oil and harming the community with his poison, he rises to public menace status.

[ah-pee-chorus]

and to his credit took his yarmulka off...I wouldn't be surprised if Rabbi Weinberger mentioned it at some point in a speech to shul congregants - if you're ever arrested take off your yarmulka.

Posted by: Abracadabra

absolutely the right move and i wish all rabbis would tell their congregants to do the same, though i dont share your optimism that weinberger did so. but i hope youre right.

[jancsipista]

gevezener- you sound like youre still a chusid and not a gevezener and thats ok.

[Abracadabra]

APC - I know Rabbi Weinberger, and if I were a betting man, that would be my bet. He grew up MO and as a child of Holocaust survivors. He may have adopted Chassidic teachings and even dress, but he didn't leave behind the values of his upbringing.

[the real/full story]

http://www.thejewishweek.com/news/new_york/woodmere_shuls_treasurer_charged_600g_theft

[Anon]

Rabbi Dovid Weinberger is Rabbi Moishe's brother.

[anonymous]

There is NO relation between Rabbi Moshe and Rabbi Dovid Weinberger. Just goes to show you that people have absolutley no clue what they are saying.

[Abracadabra]

Fagin said the congregation considered Zucker’s family “the biggest victims here. Our hope is that Isaac’s wife, father, in-laws and, most of all, children can still come and feel comfortable in Aish. We love them, accept them, will be present for them and hope that they can find peace of mind among familiar faces.”

This guy basically stole from his friends and neighbors. It is to the shul's credit that they are not ostracizing his family for his sin and tremendous betrayal of trust.

[jancsipista]

is this guy zuker a russian jew or carpathian of hungarian backround?

[Yeah]

Here come the Feds. Laundering money through a tax free organization is a no no.

[jk]

some of you need to learn reading comprehension. the guy stole the money over a period of 3 years. basically whenever a check came in, he'd take whatever the shul didnt immediately need and put into his account. recently he got sloppy and didnt leave enough for the shul to pay its bills.

[David]

The frumma crooks should learn from this alleged MO crook. He reduced the chillul Hashem by removing his kippah. In the police mug shots he will no doubt also not be wearing a kippah.

[Forty Eighter]

PULEEEZ! He took off his yarmulka because he was in the process of fleeing, and this was part of his disguise.

[Beheimish]

Aish Kodesh is mostly an amalgam of modern orthodox Jews (many founders/insiders, including Mr. Zucker, are 80s HAFTR graduates - while most congregants are YU-grads) and Baalei Teshuva.

Almost ALL congregants are educated working professionals - who are not cult-hunting zombies, naive imbeciles, or illiterate bums (although, like in all Shules, Aish has its fair share of nuts).

Meanwhile, the Rov is an erudite YU-educated (he quotes the Rov from time to time) Tzaddik, who is extremely open-minded, pragmatic, and down-to-earth.

Along these lines, Rabbi Weinberger has culled the best of Hassidus' timeless and original values (and filtered out the present-day un-authentic nonsense) and brilliantly-melded them into his repertoire, WHICH HE DOES NOT FORCE ON ANYONE.

This is why Rav Weinberger is so ridiculously popular i.e. it is his engaging personality, unassuming demeanor, and pragmatic philosophies/content (Rabbi Weinberger's feet are clearly planted on Earth circa 2011, and do not foolishly-cling to the 19th century Shtetl) ... and NOT his Bekisheh and Streimel.

Most of his top Baalei Batim and biggest adherents still send their children to YU/Mizrachi Yeshivot, with the remainder to just right of center Yeshivos.

There is clearly no snake-oil being peddled, nor is the Rabbi running a cult (although the Aish kooks often act in a cultish manner - AGAINST the increasingly-explicit directives of the Rov).

The $600K (collected from its W-2 tax-reporting/paying Olam) was likely taken over a 10 year period (3 years is based on the clear evidence - as the forensic accountants are digging further back).

Most of the $600K was in the Shule's capital fund - and the Treasurer was allegedly forging bank statements to fool his few and overly-trusting overseers.

This is a very sad and depressing event for the entire Shule, and devastating for the Rov and the Zucker family (wonderful children). Isaac was a sweet and extremely unassuming guy, who obviously had/has a major illness and/or achilles heal ... that got the best of him.

While Isaac needs to be punished (he was given ample warning and an opportunity to rectify his behavior) and incarcerated ... and the Shule's inner circle needs to be turned-over ... there is nothing sinister about Aish and its wonderful/genuine Rov, that warrants the abhorrent barbs, ignorant allegations, and hateful comments by the "Shmoiteh Foons" in this venue (Yeah, Gevezener, Forty Eighter, etc.)

[jancsipista]

behiemish-is rabbi weinberger related to rabbi dovid weinberger who has a shul in lawrence his shuls name is sheira tefileh?.

[613ENFORCER]

http://youtu.be/zzvsoXowMpw

[613ENFORCER]

http://youtu.be/YNGjH8m3zbk

[Snake Oil]

Mmmmmm. This sounds eerily familiar.

-----------------

"Meanwhile, the Rov is an erudite YU-educated (he quotes the Rov from time to time) Tzaddik, who is extremely open-minded, pragmatic, and down-to-earth.

Along these lines, Rabbi Weinberger has culled the best of Hassidus' timeless and original values (and filtered out the present-day un-authentic nonsense) and brilliantly-melded them into his repertoire, WHICH HE DOES NOT FORCE ON ANYONE.

This is why Rav Weinberger is so ridiculously popular i.e. it is his engaging personality, unassuming demeanor, and pragmatic philosophies/content (Rabbi Weinberger's feet are clearly planted on Earth circa 2011, and do not foolishly-cling to the 19th century Shtetl) ... and NOT his Bekisheh and Streimel."

"There is clearly no snake-oil being peddled, nor is the Rabbi running a cult (although the Aish kooks often act in a cultish manner - AGAINST the increasingly-explicit directives of the Rov)."

--------
Not a cult? Have another sip.

[anonymous]

Mr."Snake Oil"-you need serious help.

[Leah]

Rabbi Weinberger is a true gem. Here we have the opportunity to see the true colors of the true hard core haters that roost here and are quick to say the vilest things about someone who they have never met and know nothing about. Rabbi Weinberger is one of the major victims here but the visceral hatred by the sick tiny little self haters of any man dressed in chassidic garb is deplorable.

For shame!

[jancsipista]

leah-this whole buisness of rabbis and almost evrything on this earth boils down to good buisness and this is what rabbi weinberger is all about he found a niche and he is riding on it putting on a good show but it looks like this guy saw thru him ,so he got on the bandwagon and put his own show on for the money its al labout mone, since money can get you anything you desire honor respect and of course material things the love of money is the root of all you know what.

[Leah]

jancsipista, thank you for proving my point.

[Snake Oil]

Leah,

I'm sorry for the personal anguish you must be feeling.

We are not "self haters." We like ourselves. We don't hate you and your fellow followers. We just wish you guys would break free of the spell this self promoting opportunist has cast on you.

Weinberger is not a gem. Nor is he a victim, minor or major, of this debacle. The money taken was not his. (Or was it? I won't resist the urge to throw a jab and ask whether you deem the shul and its funds property of Weinberger.)

There is no "visceral hatred ... of any man dressed in chassidic garb" expressed here. There is criticism of a Modern Orthodox man who is playing dress up.

He is not a Chasid. Whence the garb? What purpose?

Consider yourselves his little social experiment. It was going well. For him. Until now.

This incident has offered the public a further glimpse into the warped morality of your leader. The Feds? For a mere $600k? Destroy a family? Our community has dealt discreetly with far greater losses. With dignity. Our shul presidents have not granted interviews, crying crocodile tears while kibitzing that we'll accept donations. For shame!

This experience should call for self examination I doubt your leader will allow.

Give it a try. In the safety of your homes.

Deprogram. We'd love to have you back.

[Disgusted]

Snake oil, your haughtiness stinks. You proudly display your over flowery poetic hatefulness like a pigs extended hooves. Your claims against R Weinberger are so lame, anybody who thinks for a second can see he did the right thing. Your such a hypocryte- this whole site is all about reporting criminals. If you were able to honesly look in the mirror you would be able to see the likes of Dasan and Aviram. R Weinberger would probably be able to tell if you were a gilgul. (Judging how shallow you are you will probably get all caught up on that little joke and lose all sight of the real point I am trying to make- which is wake up and drag yourself out of your obnoxious negativity.)

[jack]

As someone who is not a member or even lives in the Five Town area,I can tell you that R'Weinberger is a very sweet and unassuming person.
If his biggest "sin" is wearing chasidic garb, he is a lucky person.

[Abracadabra]

Snake Oil - I completely disagree with you. Rabbi Moshe Weinberger is a pulpit rabbi. It's a job, it pays some bills. He also used to teach to help makes ends meet. I'm not sure if he still teaches. He wore his adopted chassidic garb long before he ever dreamed of becoming a pulpit rabbi. Learning Chassidish teachings and adopting Chassidic garb was his own journey of religious discovery. I'm sure you can respect that. He would respect yours. And he's no more a cult leader than any other Orthodox pulpit rabbi out there. He adopted what he felt were the the inspiring teachings of Chasidus before he adopted the garb of it. Then he taught it periodically at a shiur here or there. Then he was approached to be the rabbi of a small minyan, which grew over time to a shul and with it his small rabbi position grew to pulpit rabbi of a shul. There's no cult. There's no one to deprogram any more than any other Modern Orthodox or Right of Center Orthodox Jews.

Btw - anyone who is nice to crazies then has crazies following them around. He's got a few following him, probably because he's nice to them and doesn't treat them like complete loonies as everyone else does.

The Chassidus which he adopted, long before he became a pulpit rabbi - were the teachings. After that came the garb. But he did not adopt the Chassidish communities - he didn't move to any. He and his family lived in Far Rockaway and stayed there for many years before he became Rav of the small minyan in Woodmere which grew into a big shul. He sent his kids to local Orthodox Far Rockaway schools.

And no, the shul's money is not his. Sorry Leah - he is not THE biggest victim. He's not even a victim - the shul donors and shul members who paid their dues which he stole are the victims. Rabbi Weinberg is a victim only in that his name is now associated with the scandal of the treasurer robbing the shul for which he is the pulpit rabbi. No major victimization there. And no ownership whatsoever. He does not and would not claim any.

There are a number of people who know him personally who have vouched in the comments here for who Rabbi Weinberger is and who he is not (including myself). If you still choose to make up scenarios which do not exist, then at the very least recognize that they are figments of your own imagination.

[Disgusted]

@snake oil- I would like to apologize for my harshness before, I had no idea about your past. I'm truly sorry and it just goes to show that we should never judge a person. Please understand that I wrote it thinking that I was doing the right thing, but had I known what you went thru I would have been quiet. Parents are so important and we take them for granted, expecting them to do the right things. Please forgive me.

[anonymous]

snake oil-would you like to share with everyone what you went through that therefore excuses all of your disgusting comments and straight out lashon hara? There is nothing that can excuse that.Sorry.

[b33nthere]

I heard he is the guy that was busted with his daughter and he blamed it on his dad touching him. sad.

[endofdays]

OMG! So messed up! It totally makes sense though. Every time i read one of his comments It feels like he's had some terrible experience and is creating conspiracy theories to strike out and damage people. The man should get help.

[JewishPresser]

This story shouldn't prompt people to beat up on Weinberger. It should highlight the depravity and sliminess of the Five Towns. Woodmere, like Lawrence, Cederhurst, Sodom, and Gemmorah is a materialistic town of posers who are constantly trying to outdo one another. As long as Orthodox Jews have lived there it's been a place where people buy houses they can't afford, with money they don't have to impress people they don't like.

In more recent years a number of Brooklyn folk have moved in a given it a patina of religion. HAFTRites and HALBers have come home from Yeshiva in Israel intoxicated with the haughtiness that comes with religion and opened institutions like Sha'ar Yashuv where young men who should be working are sitting doing nothing. All that's accomplished is create a greater demand for money. And in a town like Woodmere where money is everything that leads to some very illegal behavior.

HE isn't the first orthodox crook in the five towns and he certainly won't be the last.

[Gevalt!]

R Weinberger is as real as they come... sincere, honest and genuine...with only a motivation to inspire people to reach their potentials...

Like the umpire behind the plate...I call 'em as i see 'em...

anyone looking for real growth and inspiration is encouraged to listen or attend his lectures...

In a world filled with falsehood and two-faced 'rabbis'..he is the real deal.

It is unfortunate indeed that this important community shul has to face this challenge...

[dizzy]

He was probably sinking financially and did not have the guidance / outlet / therapy / counseling / support / inner strength he desparately needed to climb out of the deep hole he fell into.

Regrettably Woodmere is the classic Jewish modern day microchosm of living way over the top where every luxury (lexus, pesach in the caribbean, sukkot in israel, fancy summer camps, mink coats etc etc) suddenly becomes a necessity.

The Rabbinic leadership needs to identify and address the root of this problem.

[kkaj@hotmails.com]

R Weinberger is by far the most precious person any congregation can ask for. Its a tragedy that happened. Only a congregation of gems can raise $225,000 in a matter or hours.

[Anonny]

I only know of R' Weinberger from his congregants - each one stranger than the next.

Don't let that stop you from visiting his website and buying shiurim!

http://www.ravmosheweinberger.com